Alright Fused... Here is the response-once again from the collection agency....
We are in receipt your correspondence, forwarded from the XXX Clinic concerning your accounts that have been placed in collections with Alliance Collection Agencies, Inc. We are also in receipt of your intended payments.
Please be advised that Alliance Collection Agencies, Inc., has entered in a Business Associate Agreement with the XXX Clinic and represents their interested in your overdue accounts in that capacity. The reasonable sharing of information in an attempt to collect on outstanding medical debt is in fact permissible between a provider, such as XXX Clinic and an entity that is performing a function on behalf of the provider in the capacity of a business associate, such as Alliance.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued guidance on the HIPAA laws which can be found at the following website: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa. Specifically, HHS has stated that the HIPAA law permits XXX Clinic, a covered entity, to use a debt collection service such as Alliance Collections. The debt collection service can receive and use protected health information as necessary in order to perform debt collection services, an activity that falls under the definition of payment activities in HIPAA. Covered entities are permitted to use and disclose protected health information under HIPAA without the patients authorization as necessary to obtain payment for health care services they are provided.
As such, any future correspondence and/or payment remittance, intended for your outstanding medical debt assigned to our agency, should be addressed directly to Alliance Collection Agencies, Inc.
It is clear that you intention is to pay your outstanding collections items due to the XXX Clinic. This letter serves as notice that it is the intention of this office to deposit and apply your remitted payments, unless directly contacted by you within ten (10) days.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation,
Random Guy
Director of Operations
CC: Random Lady, Privacy Officer, XXX Clinic
